This blog intends to open windows into the Muslim mind that is cordoned off the mainstream society, to develop communication, understanding, and better relations, especially in the Northwest. It will cast light onto Muslim perspectives on issues ranging from doctrinal to sociopolitical and more.

Getting to Know American Muslims

Many thanks to those who posted the comments on my previous posts. Based on what I have read so far, there seems to be some confusion about who Muslims are and what do they really do.

This election campaign has also had its share of incidents involving Muslims directly or indirectly: Barack Obama being ‘implicated’ as a Muslim and his campaign responding in strong rejection. CNN’s Campell Brown recently openly addressed that being a Muslim or an Arab was neither a disqualifier nor a slur for a presidential candidate when an old lady stated at a McCain campaign that Obama was an Arab. (By the way, only one-fourth of Muslims in America are Arabs.)

Muslims have not only served America vigorously in the past, they continue to contribute significantly to the welfare of this country today as well. Right after 9/11 attacks, a Seattle Post-Intelligencer article reported that there were 100 to 150 Muslim soldiers in Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base ready to execute on commander-in-chief’s orders. The article also highlighted a religious edict by Islamic scholars that said Muslims have a duty to fight terrorism.

Several notable Muslims serve under the current Bush administration: Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to the UN is the highest-ranking Muslim official of Afghan origin. Shirin Tahir-Kheli, Condoleezza Rice’s Senior Adviser for women’s empowerment, is also a Muslim. Basketball player Hakim Olajuwon, selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, is supposed to have observed Ramadan throughout his career and studied Quran daily.

Keith Ellison came to headlines as the first Muslim elected to House of Representatives – he currently serves on Financial Services Committee and Judiciary Committee. In fact, Keith Ellison’s is an example of an American who chose to become Muslim by his choice. Boxer Muhammad Ali received Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 – the highest US civilian honor. Does their taking Islam as their religion downgrade their achievements and services to this country?

These are some of the Muslims in America. And they are no different from others except in their faith; they are no ‘them’; it’s all one – Americans. Those who have personal agendas do not care much about the security of the United States; they are trying to implicate all Muslims as one thus sowing seeds of hatred and attempting to break unity. The only way to combat it is by getting to know all Americans and be able to differentiate the good from bad based on one’s actions and services. Good men are good irrespective of religion. Criminals are criminals irrespective of religion. And every person is unique.

One of sayings I liked of Barack Obama was when he was at a town hall meeting in Los Angeles in October of 2007 – he was responding to an immigration question but his saying struck to me in context of American Muslims: “Whenever we see people talking in terms of them versus us, that’s a dangerous thing. America is at its strongest when it’s just us; it’s not them versus us.”